Extension car-step.



E. S. MITCHELL & G. A. CAMPBELL.

- EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPCIL'. 16, 1931. v 1,33,0 29 r Patented July 16, 1912.

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- EIgTENSION GAB. STEP. APPLIQATION FILED 8EPT.16, 1911.

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EDGAR S. MITCHELL AND GEORGE'A. CAMPBELL, OF HOMER, LOUISIANA EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

To all whom it may mac-em V Be it known thatwe, EDGAR S. MITCHELL and Gnonon A. CAurnnLL, 'CltlZtDS of the United States, residing at Homer, in the parish of Claiborne and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

In Patent Number 955,658, of April 19th, 1910 we show an extension car step supported in retracted and projected positions by a pair of arms connected to a pair of hangers which in turn are connected to a pair of brackets arranged in the angle between the riser and tread of a fixed car step. The several parts are so arranged as to permit of the hangers sliding on the brackets, whereby,to retract or project the step. This structure is quite eliicient but relatively expensive, owing to the. number -of parts, therefore after experimenting with the structure above described we found that the result attained thereby could bQ-PIOtlllCt-(l with a structure having comparatively few parts and moreover we found that when certain parts in the new structure were contrasted with their equivalents in the old or those shown in the patent, these new parts were exceedingly simple in construction and owing to their arrangement, could be more readily operated all of which went to show that the new structure could be produced at a lower cost than that shown in'the patent above referred to.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to simplify, increase the efficiency and reduce the cost 'of extension car step structures shown in the Letters Patent above referred to.

Other objects will appear and be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a "ertical section of car steps showing our invention applied thereto and in lowered or projected position. Fig. 2

is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the extension car step retracted or folded. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of the several parts employed for supporting and operating the Specification of Letters Patent.

extension step per 86. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section approximately on the line 44.-

the stationary steps 0.

with each of the brackets in our said patentand connecting the arm to the tread of the lowest stationary step, we further simplify this structure by securing the leaves (5, 6 to the lowest step and for the link arms and cross bar which are supported by the bracket arms in our aforesaid patent, we substitute the swinging support or yoke T and connect the same to the leaves (SQ The said swing support or yoke ,7 comprising a single piece of material of substantially U-shaped formation and comprising a horizontal sup porting arm 7 and vertical supporting arms 7. Substitute the single supporting arm 8 and a=pa1r of arms 9, 9 which is secured to the opposlte ends ofthe horizontal arm 7 so as to cooperate wit-h a plate 10 on the supporting arm said plate being disposed intermediately ofthe said arms 9, 9 to form a three-point supporting step 11. Thus we find, after eliminating one of the brackets shown in adjacent patent andsubstituting therefor a bracket less expensive to manufacture, thatinstead of weakening our structure, we have on the other hand, strengthened the same by increasing the supporting area for the step- 11 and moreover we have rendered the device easier to operate, since it is now only necessary to disengage one latch andconsequently compress one spring in order to project or retract the step, whereas in our above noted patent twice Instead offorming this bracket with an arm such as that shown Patented July 16,1912. Application fi1ed.September 16, 1911. Serial No. 649,635.

this amount of effort was necessary in order to operate the step.

The horizontal-side 12 of the bracket 0' has thelateral ears or flanges 13 through which pass the screws or bolts 14 for securing the bracket to the tread of one. of the stationary steps The vertical side 15 of the bracket a has the cars 16, 16 through which pass the screws or bolts 17 which connect the bracket to the riser of one of the stationary steps, The said cars 16, 16 also provide stops for the hanger 18 when the latter is vertical as shown in Fig. 1. The hanger 18 has a bushing 19 which turns in an opening in the vertical side 15 of the bracket and is held against displacement in any preferred manner, such as by a washer 20 arranged on a screwed the nut- 22. This structure admits of thetightening of the nut 22 without danger of causing binding on the pivotal sup port for the hanger.

The latch comprises the pin 23 which passes through the oblong opening 24 in the hanger and connects the guide 25 with the arm 26 which latter operates to move the latch or pin 23 in the notches 27, 27 on the curved side 28 of the bracket a when the step'is projected or retracted, the said arm being actuated by the spring 29 which is tensioned by a nut 30 screwed onto the rod 31 which is surrounded by the spring and connected to the arm 26 so as to slide in the guide 32 which forms a bearing for the spring 29. The pivot pin 33 which passes through the oblong opening 34 in the hanger 18, also connects the guide 25 with the arm 26 and in addition forms a support for the arm 8 which latter, as shown also has a portion 35 curving around the yoke 7. I

The operation of our invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description and by reference to our previous patent. It will be seen, however, that when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the outer port-ion of the extension step in order to depress the latch or pin 23 from engagement with the lower notch 27. This done, the step may be swung inwardly until the latch or pin engages with the upper notch 27 To project the step from the position shown in Fig. '2, it is only necessary to repeat the before mentioned operation of pressing upwardly on the step, until the latch is disengaged after which the step may be swung downwardly and outwardly to the position 'showninFig. 1.

Although we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention it is to be understoodthat we are not to be limited to the specific arrangement and construction ofparts since various changes will be made, Within the. scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What we claim as new is:

v 1. In an extension car step, the combination with the fixed steps of a bracket provided with means for connecting the same to the middle portion of the tread and riser bolt 21 upon which is of one of the fixed steps, an angularly adjustable hanger provided with a bushing for pivotally connecting the same to said bracket, a latch cooperating with the bracket to latch the hanger in various positions of adjustment, and a three-point support for the extension step including a swinging yoke substantially of U-shaped structure including a horizontal arm supporting bar and oppositely disposed vertical extending arm supporting bars connected to one of the stationary steps and carrying two arms connected to the swinging step, and a supporting arm connected to the swinging step and also connected to the latch for the purpose described.

2. In an extension car'step, the combination with the fixed steps, of a bracket to lie in the angle between, the tread and riser of a fixed step, an angularly adjustable hanger connected to said bracket, ing the hanger to the bracket in various positions of adjustment, a swirging support of substantially U-shaped structure including a horizontal arm supporting bar and oppositely disposed vertical extending arm supporting bars, means carried by the said oppositely disposed arm extending bars for connecting the swinging support to the stationary stepsand means carried by the horizontal arm supporting bar for connecting the said. yoke to an extension step and a supporting arm connected to the latch and adapted for operating the same.

3. In an extension car step, the combina tion with the fixed steps, of a bracket 'to lie in the angle between the tread and riser of a fixed step, an angularly adjustable hanger connected to said bracket, a latch for latching the hanger to the bracket in various po'.

sitions of adjustment, a swinging support of substantially U-shaped structure including a horizontal arm supporting bar and oppositely disposed vertical extending arm supporting bars, means carried by the said oppositely disposed tionary steps and means carried by the horizontal arm supporting barft'or connecting the said yoke to an extension step and a sup porting arm connected to the latch and adapted for operating the same and also connected. to the extension step at an intermediate point between the said means carried by the said horizontal arm supporting bar of the swinging yoke.

4:. In an extension car step, thc-combinaticn with the fixed steps, of a bracket to lie in an angle between the tread and riser of a fixed step, an angularly adjustable hanger connected to said bracket, a latch for latch ing the hanger. to the bracket in various positions of adjustment, a swinging support a latch for latch-- arm extending bars for connecting the swinging support to the stafor the extension step connected to the sta- In testimony whereof We afiix our signationary steps, anfd a supporting arm having tures in presence of two witnesses. a portion tereo curved around'an intermediate portion of the swinging support and 5 carrying means for connecting the same to v f the extension step,the said supporting arm Witnesses: being also connected to the latch and adapt- W. C. MERRY ed for operating the same. I J. P. RoYALL. 

